Using Stable and Radioactive Isotopes for Assessment of Origin and Sustainable Management of Groundwater Resources
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saqarTvelos mecnierebaTa erovnuli akademiis moambe, t. 11, #2, 2017 BULLETIN OF THE GEORGIAN NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, vol. 11, no. 2, 2017 Geophysics Using Stable and Radioactive Isotopes for Assessment of Origin and Sustainable Management of Groundwater Resources George Melikadze*, Lika Chelidze**, Sopio Vepkhvadze*, Mariam Todadze* * M. Nodia Institute of Geophysics, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University ** E. Andronikashvili Institute of Physics,Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (Presented by Academy Member Tamaz Chelidze) ABSTRACT. The paper reports on drinking water storage situation in the Eastern Georgia and recent study of underground water resources in Alazani-Iori catchment with using a hydro-geochemical and environmental isotope application. More than hundred groundwater and surface water samples were analyzed to study composition of major ions and isotopes 18O, 2H and 3H. During the field work, physical and chemical parameters of waters (temperature, pH, DO, EC) were obtained. Three groups of groundwater were identified, revealing the dominant evolution of mineralization from Northwest to Southeast, with major increase in the Shiraki area. The geochemical patterns among the groups change from Ca(Mg)/ HCO3 type in the Kvareli aquifer to Na/SO4(Cl) type in the Shiraki syncline. Variation indicated the evolution of groundwater isotopic composition on the path from the recharge area in the mountains and then through the river valley to exfiltration areas, from the 18O values more, than -8.5 ‰ V - SMOW and 2H values less than -55 ‰ V - SMOW, till 18O values between -11 and -13‰ V - SMOW and 2H less than 75 ‰ V - SMOW. Tritium concentration is decreasing from the West to the East on the territory and the smallest concentration is observed on the Shiraki plain. Almost all aquifers in the study area contain admixture of older waters with no Tritium and low 18O values. Whereas the ground waters in the Alazani valley artesian aquifers are concluded to be of a good quality they are recommended for drinking. © 2017 Bull. Georg. Natl. Acad. Sci. Key words: stable isotopes, GMWL, water origin More than 70% of Georgian water supply comes conditions of Georgia. These negative effects could from the groundwater (GRW). One of the biggest be the most serious in the Eastern Georgia, espe- zones of groundwater is the Eastern Georgia [1]. cially in the hydrogeological basin area of the Iori These groundwaters belong to the least surveyed river, which is known to have clearly depicted char- and exploited aquifers in Georgia. It is expected that acteristics of arid-zone and semi-desert. Preliminary global warming will have negative effect on natural meteorological data show that precipitation has sig- © 2017 Bull. Georg. Natl. Acad. Sci. 48 George Melikadze, Lika Chelidze, Sopio Vepkhvadze, Mariam Todadze nificantly decreased in this region, which caused The Alazani valley between the Greater Cauca- depletion of underground water and natural springs. sus and the Kakheti ridge is filled with Quaternary Hence, there is a distinct tendency of processes ac- sediments and sediments of the river Alazani. It con- tively leading to desert formation. All these negative sists of sandy-gravel and clay-loam sediments, form- ecological events led to deterioration of population’s ing several water-bearing horizons down to approxi- social-economic conditions. As the negative ecologi- mately 500 m in three principal aquifers – Kvareli, cal processes become stronger, desert formation can Gurjaani and Telavi. The total thickness of sediments easily turn into an irreversible form. Understanding of the Alazani valley, lying on the surface of crystal- the GRW regime, its interactions with surface waters, line rocks, is between 2 and 4 km. which influence groundwater quantity and quality is The Garekakheti Plateau is formed by tertiary therefore of the utmost importance to secure water sediments with outcrops of Upper Jurassic rocks supply for the economy and population. (Dedoplitskaro Hill). The synclines on the Shiraki Plain Besides the traditional methods of hydrogeo- are filled by Quaternary sediments of the logical survey, mapping of the environmental and Krasnokolodski suite. They consist of argillaceous radioactive (tritium) isotopes concentration as water sands, conglomerates and gravels. The sands are tracers provide useful complementary information on partly gypsiferous. The largest Shiraki syncline is of water origin, history and contamination, thus con- considerable extension up to 50 km, and the sediments tributing to the assessment of groundwater vulner- are approximately 1000 m thick. ability and sustainability in terms of both water quan- From the hydrogeological point of view, the tity and quality [2, 3]. Alazani and Iori basins have the area of approximately Regular sampling and analyses of oxygen and 8000 sq.km. It includes the Alazani and Iori artesian hydrogen isotopes in natural waters (18O, 2H, 3H) aquifers, the adjacent aquifers of the Shiraki Plain are permanently held by International Atomic Energy synclinal and the Kakheti-range in the West-North- Agency. Therefore, it becomes common practice in west. This range and the entire Greater Shiraki Plain many countries as a part of national meteorological, are climatic boundaries between the water-abundant geological and hydrological observation systems. In Alazani basin and the water-scarce Iori basin. The contrast, the topic is new in the Caucasian region. valley is drained by the Alazani and Iori rivers. An- other important source of water is the groundwater Material and Methods from numerous boreholes and wells [5]. The origin of Study area is represented by a valley surrounded by the groundwater remains unknown. the Greater Caucasus Mountains (altitudes up to 3500 In the frame of the mentioned project more than m a.s.l.) in the north and lower Gombori Range (alti- one hundred water points (springs, boreholes, dug tudes up to 2000 m a.s.l.) in the South. From the geo- wells, rivers and lakes) were sampled during six cam- logical point of view, composition of the study re- paigns from April 2012 until October 2013. Isotopes gion is complex and contains Jurassic, Cretaceous, 18O, 2H and 3H were measured at each site. During Paleogene, Neogene and Quaternary rocks [4]. The field work, physico-chemical parameters of waters Northeastern and Northwestern slopes of the (Temperature, pH, DO, EC) were obtained by the Kakheti ridge are formed by Alazani series of Neogene WTW Multi 340i set. Samples were also taken for and Pleistocene continental sediments. Their maxi- stable isotopes’ and Tritium analyses. mum thickness is 2 km and the dominant components Isotopic composition of precipitation was stud- are gravels, conglomerates and sands. Gravels are ied on the basis of monthly composite samples from typically formed by large size boulders of sandstone Global Network Isotope in Precipitation (GNIP) and and limestone material. Global Network Isotope in Rivers (GNIR) stations, Bull. Georg. Natl. Acad. Sci., vol. 11, no. 2, 2017 Using Stable and Radioactive Isotopes for Assessment of Origin... 49 Fig. 1. Distribution of 18O isotopes between different sites on the topo- map. located in Tianeti, Telavi, Lagodekhi, DedoplisTskaro stable isotopes (18O, 2H) were analysed in all water [6, 7]. samples from different hydrogeological groups The isotopic and hydochemical analyses were (Fig. 1). Fig. 1 reveals that modern recharge water performed in the Laboratory of Institute of Geophys- with 18O values more than -8.5 ‰ V-SMOW (Vienna ics by laser analizator Picarro L2110-I; chemical com- Standard Mean Ocean Water - is a water standard position was measured by Flame-photometer PFP7 defining the isotope composition of the fresh water) and DREL2800; Tritium analysis was performed in is fixed in the spring, river and boreholes in the left the Hacettepe University, Turkey. bank of river Alazani. These values are related with groundwaters of the Alazani series and Kvareli aqui- Theory/Calculation fer. Similar values of 18O were fixed in the spring and Groundwater sampling was generally conducted in boreholes in limestone’s aquifers located on the the NW-SE transects, i.e. from the Southern slopes DedoplisTskaro “Hill”. Telavi and Gurjaani artesian of the Greater Caucasus across the Alazani valley structures contain groundwater with heavier 18O value Bull. Georg. Natl. Acad. Sci., vol. 11, no. 2, 2017 50 George Melikadze, Lika Chelidze, Sopio Vepkhvadze, Mariam Todadze -50 -60 Tsnori 1 ] ‰ [ -70 H 2 δ Akhmeta Telavi Kvareli Gurjani -80 Lagodekhi Heretitskali Tsnori Sighnaghi Dedoplis Tskaro Samtatskaro Sagarejo -90 GMWL -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 δ18O [‰] Fig. 2. Isotopic composition of different groundwater samples is compared with the Global Meteoric Water Line (GMWL). between -7.5 and -8.5 ‰ V-SMOW, in the 200-500 m the “Samtatskaro” borehole, probably represents deep layer. Samples from deep boreholes in the open older waters. The rest of samples are modern water, thermal water layer (Heretitshkali, Tsnori, etc), con- which partially underwent evaporation. The Sagarejo tain paleo-waters with d18O values between -11 and - waters do not form one group. Tsnori field is charac- 13‰ V-SMOW. Similar value of 18O has the terised with changeable values of samples. The data groundwater of the Shiraki syncline and of the mid- presented point to the evolution of groundwater iso- dle part of river Iori. topic composition on its travel from the recharge area Exactly the similar picture of distribution